This review is from: Dancing With Strangers: The True History of the Meeting of the British First Fleet and the Aboriginal Australians, 1788 (Kindle Edition)

I am 65 years old - fifth generation Australian - ashamed to admit to utter ignorance of my country's first years. This book was not just a great read, it was easy going, but made me a bit ashamed, perhaps something wrong with our auzzie education system. It took me back to my grandmother chatting about her 1890's - the ship wreck and gold rush of the 1850's, but the book was about first european contact in the 1780/90's. We are so swept into the 21st centuary it is almost impossible to relocate ones mind to that era.

Practically every one knows about the Sydney Opera House, and perhaps they know it is built on Bennilong point - a spit of land charging into Sydney Harbour from the botanical gardens and the Governors residence .

Aurther Phillip, England's initial governor in New South Wales, was a good man doing a very hard job. More or less he has now been lost to history, but this book brings him back from the dead. More importantly it bings back Bennilong, the first native Australian to learn properly to speak English. Bennilong so loved the govenor, he camped out with his extended family in the garden of government house. This became impossible and while most of the resident in Sydney were living in tents or mud brick shacks the governer built Bennilong a 4 room stone quasi mansion. The house is long gone, but the Opera House now stands proud on Bennilong point.

Dancing With Strangers: The True History of the Meeting of the British First Fleet and the Aboriginal Australians, 1788B007I571FCInga ClendinnenCanongate BooksDancing With Strangers: The True History of the Meeting of the British First Fleet and the Aboriginal Australians, 1788Welcome
Essential reading for all aussies and brits
I am 65 years old - fifth generation Australian - ashamed to admit to utter ignorance of my country's first years. This book was not just a great read, it was easy going, but made me a bit ashamed, perhaps something wrong with our auzzie education system. It took me back to my grandmother chatting about her 1890's - the ship wreck and gold rush of the 1850's, but the book was about first european contact in the 1780/90's. We are so swept into the 21st centuary it is almost impossible to relocate ones mind to that era.

Practically every one knows about the Sydney Opera House, and perhaps they know it is built on Bennilong point - a spit of land charging into Sydney Harbour from the botanical gardens and the Governors residence .

Aurther Phillip, England's initial governor in New South Wales, was a good man doing a very hard job. More or less he has now been lost to history, but this book brings him back from the dead. More importantly it bings back Bennilong, the first native Australian to learn properly to speak English. Bennilong so loved the govenor, he camped out with his extended family in the garden of government house. This became impossible and while most of the resident in Sydney were living in tents or mud brick shacks the governer built Bennilong a 4 room stone quasi mansion. The house is long gone, but the Opera House now stands proud on Bennilong point.

After clicking on the Post button you will be asked to create your public name, which will be shown with all your contributions.

Is this your product?

If you are the author, artist, manufacturer or an official representative of this product, you can post an Official Comment on this review. It will appear immediately below the review wherever it is displayed. Learn more

Otherwise, you can still post a regular comment on this review.

Is this your product?

If you are the author, artist, manufacturer or an official representative of this product, you can post an Official Comment on this review. It will appear immediately below the review wherever it is displayed. Learn more

System timed out

We were unable to verify whether you represent the product. Please try again later, or retry now. Otherwise you can post a regular comment.

Since you previously posted an Official Comment, this comment will appear in the comment section below. You also have the option to edit your Official Comment. Learn more

The maximum number of Official Comments have been posted. This comment will appear in the comment section below. Learn more